SquareDaff
Über Member
- Location
- Doncaster, South Yorkshire
After having been forced off the bike for 3 months due to illness and then a related back injury I'd actually set yesterday as my first day back commuting to work on bike again. Had been working on my back with light exercise for about 3 weeks before this only to be struck down with delhi belly over the weekend. So today it was....
Had throughly cleaned and checked out the bike last night and had my gear all laid out ready. Allowed myself 5-10 extra mins until I get back into the "routine" again, and set myself a shorter "startup route" (i.e. stay on the train a couple of extra stops!).
Getting ready - no problems and it actually felt good to be putting on the cycle gear again rather than slopping off to the car. Set off nice and gentle with my new "save the back" mantra of "spin not grind" in my head. Part one of the journey, a little 4 mile hop, was taken in a nice low gear, easy peddling and an average speed of about 14mph. Nowhere near what I had been able to do - but the whole point of today (and I suspect a few more days yet) is to get me back in the saddle and not break records! Lovely day to start too. Had the spring gear on - so had guessed the likely temperature just right and didn't overheat at all. Lovely crisp morning - the sun just above the horizon and a very light mist on the fields as I rode through the country lanes to the train station. Had picked a route that was mostly flat and light on traffic. When I did reach the one reasonable hill - I slipped a couple of gears lower than I would normally go and just took it nice and gently. Was breathing a little heavy by the time I'd reached the top - but will fix that the more I cycle (or probably not!! In reality I'll just try and climb the hill faster and will always be out of breath at the top!!
). Then a quick uneventful mile to the station where I did a quick "check" on the back. So far so good.
Rode the train all the way into Doncaster - rather than getting off early like I usually do - leaving just a ride of 3 miles to get to work. A bit of traffic riding and then a long drag along a dual carriageway. Took the town centre very steadily - but admit that when I reached the dual carriageway I pushed myself a little. Hit 20mph. Again nowhere near what I'm capable off but about 3-4mph more than I had been doing. Legs were complaining by the time I reached the end of the stretch - but then just eased into the work car park!!
Sat in the office now feeling more awake than I have in the last 3 months. The back is OK so far - and I'm actually looking forward to the ride home. If everything is OK tonight will do the same route for the next week-fortnight and then gradually increase the distances/speeds back to pre-injury levels. Then hopefully all those extra pounds I've put back on over the last 3 months will disappear too.
It's amazing how much you miss something once you can't do it!!!
Had throughly cleaned and checked out the bike last night and had my gear all laid out ready. Allowed myself 5-10 extra mins until I get back into the "routine" again, and set myself a shorter "startup route" (i.e. stay on the train a couple of extra stops!).
Getting ready - no problems and it actually felt good to be putting on the cycle gear again rather than slopping off to the car. Set off nice and gentle with my new "save the back" mantra of "spin not grind" in my head. Part one of the journey, a little 4 mile hop, was taken in a nice low gear, easy peddling and an average speed of about 14mph. Nowhere near what I had been able to do - but the whole point of today (and I suspect a few more days yet) is to get me back in the saddle and not break records! Lovely day to start too. Had the spring gear on - so had guessed the likely temperature just right and didn't overheat at all. Lovely crisp morning - the sun just above the horizon and a very light mist on the fields as I rode through the country lanes to the train station. Had picked a route that was mostly flat and light on traffic. When I did reach the one reasonable hill - I slipped a couple of gears lower than I would normally go and just took it nice and gently. Was breathing a little heavy by the time I'd reached the top - but will fix that the more I cycle (or probably not!! In reality I'll just try and climb the hill faster and will always be out of breath at the top!!
). Then a quick uneventful mile to the station where I did a quick "check" on the back. So far so good. Rode the train all the way into Doncaster - rather than getting off early like I usually do - leaving just a ride of 3 miles to get to work. A bit of traffic riding and then a long drag along a dual carriageway. Took the town centre very steadily - but admit that when I reached the dual carriageway I pushed myself a little. Hit 20mph. Again nowhere near what I'm capable off but about 3-4mph more than I had been doing. Legs were complaining by the time I reached the end of the stretch - but then just eased into the work car park!!
Sat in the office now feeling more awake than I have in the last 3 months. The back is OK so far - and I'm actually looking forward to the ride home. If everything is OK tonight will do the same route for the next week-fortnight and then gradually increase the distances/speeds back to pre-injury levels. Then hopefully all those extra pounds I've put back on over the last 3 months will disappear too.
It's amazing how much you miss something once you can't do it!!!
